Exogenous progesterone alleviates heat and high light stress-induced inactivation of photosystem II in wheat by enhancing antioxidant defense and D1 protein stability

This experiment was conducted to test the effects of foliar application of progesterone on the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) and photosynthetic rate in wheat flag leaves subjected to cross-stress of heat and high light during grain-filling stage. The results showed that progesterone pretreatment increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase, and the contents of ascorbic acid and glutathione under the cross-stress. Meanwhile, the rate of O 2 − production, hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and malondialdehyde contents in progesterone pretreated leaves were significantly lower under heat and high light stress. In parallel with the alleviation of oxidative stress, higher content of D1 protein in PSII reactive center was observed in progesterone pretreated leaves, resulting in a significant increase in the potential (Fv/Fm) and actual (ΦPS II) photochemical efficiency of PSII, and the net photosynthetic rate. In summary, this study suggested that foliar application of progesterone might protect the PSII complex from heat and high light stress-induced damage through enhancing antioxidant defense system and further facilitating D1 protein stability in the wheat leaves.